Buffalo Bills select Justin Shorter in fifth round of 2023 NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills are taking a chance on a receiver with excellent size and athleticism, selecting Florida‘s Justin Shorter in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Shorter made a name for himself at Florida after transferring from Penn State following his first two years in college. The 6-foot-4 receiver managed to rack up 95 catches for 1,395 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the Gators.

Though he never had a monster season with the Gators, Shorter’s size and athleticism makes him an intriguing NFL prospect.

He showed out at the Senior Bowl with an impressive array of route-running, some that left defensive backs in the dust. Shorter’s NFL Combine and Pro Day results were a little bit more so-so.

The size and athleticism have made him a favorite prospect for a while now, though.

Shorter was tabbed a five-star out of high school, ranked as the No. 7 overall player in the 2018 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Rankings. He was the No. 1 receiver in the class and the top overall player from the state of New Jersey, hailing from Monmouth Junction (N.J.) South Brunswick.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Justin Shorter

There are a few notable weaknesses in Shorter’s game, many of them centering around his immediate quickness off the line of scrimmage, which can be lacking at times.

Still, the overwhelming consensus going into the NFL Draft was that Justin Shorter has got a good enough frame and hands to be a contributor for some NFL team.

Writes NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein in evaluating Shorter:

“Big and long with the build-up speed and skill set to attack defenses via intermediate and deep routes. Shorter plays to his size with a rugged demeanor that allows him to play through physical coverage and secure catches. He has above-average ball-winning talent down the field but he’s too leggy and gradual in short spaces to escape press quickly or win consistently underneath.

“Shorter requires longer-developing routes that allow him to turn over his stride, but once he gets going, he tilts the odds in his favor. His limitations cap his ceiling, but his toughness and ball skills raise his floor as a WR4/5 with upside.”

Among some of the notable strengths for Shorter are his massive wingspan with large hands, his highly effective ball-tracking and high-point ability and his willingness to play rough at the top of routes, securing catches well in traffic.

Among his weaknesses are his slow release, his losing momentum making turns and his inconsistency bailing out quarterbacks on challenging throws.